Sadness as family farm shuts down

A popular open family farm loved by children will close at the end of May.

Management at Docker Park Farm have announced the Arkholme visitor attraction will shut on May 31 to make way for 30 static caravans.

Lancaster City Council has stipulated the farm must close to the public as a condition of giving planning permission for extra accommodation on the Keer Valley site.

Aside from its animals, the farm also has an indoor playbarn, go-karts and outdoor adventure playground. Owners John and Lisa Tamlin bought the farm in December 2010 and reopened it after a major refurbishment.

Regular visitors to Docker Park Farm have been commenting on the farm’s Facebook page.

Sheila Mavis Mecklenburgh said: “I am so disappointed and frustrated. The two would have worked well together and would have been good for tourism.”

A spokesman for Docker Park Farm said: “A condition of our planning permission for the static caravan park currently under construction was that the open farm closed for business and so, sadly, that is what is happening.”

The caravans were given planning permission in 2014 despite objections from some residents who thought extra traffic would disturb the tranquility of the area.